Merry Xmas everyone. Ooooops, no it's not, time goes that fast I thought it was Xmas, sorry all :) Well it's not that far though so before it does arrive sit back and read my October adventures.

The Month started with another great visit to my daughter south of Melbourne and as usual great to see her and the two grandsons, Max and Flynn, dads at work so don't get to see him. Max is growing rapidly and starting to talk clearly enough for me to understand 'Poppy Doug' you can guess how I felt about that. The other grandfather is also poppy, so poppy Doug it has to be. Flynn is also growing nicely and was 9 weeks old at that visit. I got two more visits in for the month also.

Not only those visit's but I also caught up with some great GN friends at Queenscliff, south east of Geelong. They came overseas to meet up with me there. They came across on the ferry from Sorrento and I drove down to Queenscliff from Bacchus Marsh, thanks Brian and Cheryl it was great to catch up again. I hope you had a safe trip overseas going home. I headed off to Ballarat another day to catch up with yet another GN and it was great to see Paul and Eril again, it had been about three years since I visited them last. Very good friends Dave and Carol rang another day to say get my but in gear and meet them in Gordon, about 30 mins east of Ballarat. So, one Saturday off I headed to do what I was told as I always do what I'm told, well, sometimes anyway. Dave and Carol have just purchased land in the area and wanted me to see it. Nice too. It was great to see both of them again and chat the day away. Later in the month I headed to Warrnambool, south west coast VIC just cos it's 'down the road' and caught up with good friend Terry and after lunch and a few hours chatting it was time to about face and head back to Bacchus Marsh, 'just up the road'.  Phew! I'm buggered just writing all that.

Moving right along.

The month progressed through and around all the meet ups and I managed to fit in some touristy things as well. I was out driving around on some back roads and came across Djerriwarrh Bridge at Anthony's Cutting just slightly east of Bacchus Marsh. This was a magnificent looking sandstone bridge built in 1859, it replaced a stone ford crossing and became a toll way and a toll gate erected in 1861 but was short-lived as two years later after complaints from local farmers the toll gate was removed. Yeh! People power. There might be a lesson there? You might have noticed I said 'what was a magnificent bridge', I said that due to the surrounding area looking like a local dump ground and the graffiti on the bridge itself. I would like to think that history like that would be better maintained by the local authorities but obviously they just don't care. 

Not far from the bridge was Lake Merrimu on the Diggers Rest road and slightly north east of Bacchus Marsh so I called in to check it out and was sad to see how low the water level was at this lake, very sad. It is the local water supply but doesn't bother the house I am looking after as they have water tanks for house water and a dam for garden water and all in good nick. Unlike GreenS Lake, one of my favourite places, there is no camping and gates locked at 4.30pm. Standing back I could only imagine the beauty of a full lake.

Another day driving around back roads I came across Lerderderg Gorge just a hop skip and jump north west of Bacchus Marsh. Ahhhh! The serenity. Very nice relaxing spot to enjoy a picnic lunch. The Lerderderg River runs through the area and adds to the serenity. You could tow a van there but the road is very narrow and I wouldn't and no camping there anyway. Leave it locked up somewhere and drive there in car only.

Now for the weather report but I am not a Meteorologist, I say that because for some reason all the weather presenters on TV these days are called Meteorologist's. There was a mixed bag of weather with mainly heaps of wind, some sunny days and rain but here and there but was good rain when it happened so that was welcome. Temps were 6-18c overnight and 16-30c during the day, yes 30c, only two days though so really, no complaints from me.

The house sit is going very well but did have a minor problem with the large in-door fish tank. For some reason the water filter slowed down to a bubble here and a bubble there then just stopped. The fish didn't look at all happy and were just hanging around instead of playing happily.  I checked the obvious, the power supply and that was OK so sitting back looking and thinking, yes, that was noise you probably heard early in the month, I thought the filter may need cleaning so after a little difficulty due to the fixed lighting etc directly above the tank I managed to get the filter out and gave it a good clean. After all that I put the filter back in the tank and turned the power on. Yep, that was the problem, phew! Problem solved. Even the fish looked happier and I?m sure one smiled at me and said thank you.

The owners of the property have heaps of fruit trees around the place and Sue was quite worried they might not flower and produce fruit due to them being away but I am pleased to say after much watering and pampering every tree and after my inspection one day, they all have heaps of young fruit on them so fresh fruit not far away. I'm sure both Sue and Mark will be excited about that.

STOP THE PRESS!

I got a call from Sue saying Mark was in hospital due to an ongoing medical problem he has. Sue had told me when we last spoke that he wasn't well and his doctor from here wanted him to get back and sort meds etc out but the problem didn't want to come back home so made its mind known, result, hospital for Mark. Everything sorted it was time to make the big escape and get back to the real world. No, not home back to their journey. Now as a result of the 'time down' and a change made this end that I had arranged, the house sit was extended so now here for a little longer. No problem with any of that as I seem to fill in the days very easily, in fact, I don't know where the time goes and I tell you that for free. Sue got sick not long after all that. Bugga. They have both now made it to South Gippsland VIC and resting up.

START THE PRESS AGAIN.

You might remember in my last update I talked about visiting the house that Doug built with help from father in-law at time, well, my building skills were called on again and a special item was needed for my grandson I am getting to know well during my more regular visits lately. It proved a little difficult at first and some thought needed, as having a cordless drill and screw drivers only and no other tools these days I had to sort that out. A look around 'the man cave' here at the house sit to find a circular saw and a jig saw (and found) needed to cut the timber of the 'learning tower' as my daughter calls it, I call it the 'Max Project', the rest of the construction had to be done by hand. The timber and bits and bobs needed came from the Big Green Shed. Not having a work bench or vice to hold things a lot was done on the ground and bending over or kneeling, really good for the back, I don't think, but what's more important, is a happy grandson I reckon. I was hoping to get some cutting done by the Big Green Shed but I was told by the store I attended they have only recently changed their policy on some cutting jobs. Yep, you guessed it, I was one of those 'some' jobs, so couldn't get that done.  

Job completed I managed to fit in another visit to my daughter and two grandsons and took the 'Max Project' with me. I got him to help me carry it in the kitchen and without any help or instruction he was up the step and on the standing platform cutting his morning snack with his plastic knife. Oh! When I told young Max it was the 'Max Project' I was promptly told "No, Max's Ladder, Poppy". Mmmm, I think I just got told. Cheeky little monkey. I love him though.

Just shows you can get around things though with a little thought, out here in the playground.

So, all that said the house sit continues into November and I can hear the water at GreenS Lake, about two and a bit hours north rolling into the shoreline and the wind in the trees calling my name. 'SOON' I answer back.

Well, that's my October done and dusted and it has come to an end so I hope you all had a good October as well. It's also the end of this update, so until the November update, keep safe out there everyone.

Some pics below as usual. 

Great story Doug, Luv the Max ladder.Great job.

Hi Doug,

Another great episode and look into your life   I must admit to being ashamed with you however - that Max Project could have been called W**K but I'll be nice and call it a labour of love

Gday...

Another good reflection into the Life of Young Doug.

Might get a chance to catchya at Greens later in the year.

cheers - John

Thanks again to those who commented since my last visit here. As I said I really appreciate it.

Edit....Forgot to say, Young Max loves his "Ladder" and uses it every day from what my daughter tells me. I will be visiting again soon. His dad wasn't very happy with the idea when my daughter told him about it while in constuction stages but when he got home the first night young Max was on it helping mum. Dad LOVED it. 

Love the max ladder. U r very clever.love the photos. I wonder if th3 convicts built that bridge. Cheers. Rocket